I am a firm believer in recycling or upcycling what is old into the new. This goes for information too. Being able to share what I know and have learned throughout the years is a pleasure and a blessing. This blog features a variety of tips, how-to's and advice gleaned from the mistakes I have made. Maybe you will find a little tidbit here that will help you in some way in your life. I hope so.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Perils of the Summer Garden or Gardening With Twins

I have always wanted to be a gardener like my father. Unfortunately, I am opposed to hard labor and will go to great lengths to avoid anything that requires exposure to heat and humidity. For the last 2 summers I have forced myself into the glorious outdoors and begun dabbling in home grown produce. Mother nature has somehow sensed my lazy nature and has gathered her off-spring to conspire against me.

Last summer the deer ate all my tender new plants flat to the ground. By the time I had replanted, with addition of a chicken wire fence, it was too late for much of a harvest. This Spring I started with renewed vim and vigor. I soaked the okra seed overnight in water as I remember my father had said to do. Everything sprouted beautifully. I had huge leafy squash plants covered with blossoms. I actually harvested several yellow and small butternut squash plants.

Suddenly I began to notice the squash blossoms were all lying on the ground! What was the culprit? They seemed to be neatly snipped off but there was no sign of a cutworm or other insect. I posted an alarm to my FaceBook status but got nothing but sympathy, no suggestions. I then posted to a garden discussion page, received several suggestions for killing various insects.

Imagine my terror each morning as I hopefully crept to my garden, cuss words flying as I found newly snipped blossoms! I was in despair. Finally a FaceBook "friend" asked if I had raccoons, they sometimes bite off blossoms? Raccoons? Well, Duh! I live in the South, don't I? It was only a few days later when I spotted the Twins climbing the stairs to our garage apartment:

Why am I so suspicious that these "precious" babes are the ones standing between me and my Master Gardener designation? Will I never grow enough vegetables for a single Southern style veggie supper? And will Mother Nature and I ever reach a truce? Tune in later to find out.